Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-12-30


| said would make thee laugh. TvePnn
The clock ten minutes las and I've i =.
George w Bell So. That's bunkun. S'
: ity I'm prime fiNer, am ,oli
4 really thought my head mus th,
when had thought good while o.
outrageous affair .,ould n.
went downstairs at last-II,Ild saw,
negative no longer and yet I,""ouId-fo
Sarah and Thomas all thai negativ,
would they have been more
had they known? .,ord BREATHING
In the dark hall ,,ckbone At last
"Prue's got 10 show be-, door was omen
said James, The fra railing Of IN.
there was rusiiHn'i in he'd said lanes
knob. "Everybedys in ,Sa na aai~ o" IN,
in high glee "anSdaSc II Edw.rd Audo
there this long "PPrue and George W Bel
on, tne os pse will be happier with hin
telis me raothcr will be happier, too
alone Or be both, but Just George w
30 II ,br back door key, hold 1t for me
Here ssbssing so It might spill and wax,
la'pprdy Sloan, and she'd holler fire Xix.
olu '15nc once before when i groaneC
sssr.Sp.gh the keyhole. Now. I'm going NJ
tor Prue-she won't hurry worth cent
seems"
Y The rustling was further along the hall
heard James softly ascending the stair
he had not heard the rafting OF III
front door knob, had not heard the rust
ling in the hall. Both the men were here
were whispering even now in the parlor
almost scuffiing, thought.
Then Prue came down the stairs will
James. l caught each by an arm.
pity thy unwomanliness, Prue," said
and II / were 10 be soundly pinched .
might know if were not dreaming"
Such a nip as James gave me, land"
went on, thee can not make thy idiotit
selection; for both the men"
She ran from me. the front door wa
closed, and she was outside WITHHOLD
men.
pulled James ear.
Let up, Tacy." cried he, 81 done all >.
could; | even poured oil on the front doc
hinges, like George w. Bell told me to
Here's the front door KEY, too: won
let Edward Andover in if he breaks tn,
door down. It's not IL o'clock by th'
right time, is itf There! I've locked the
door"
open that door, commanded, "ant
let me 90 after that shameless youns
woman Does thee hear meg Open tina
door
YES. open the door, open the door
whispered low voice in the darkness, ant
! almost screamed Prue had gone will
only one of the men,
Is this George Bell or Edward An
dover?" | asked, for it was all dark. the
knows.
Let me out" was the only answer I re
ceived. This is too much. What maj
was that in the parlor who tied my hand
with top cord belonging to this youni
rascal here? Is all this a preconcerted ar
rangement to render me sillier than evel
this silly affair of tonight might warrant
Where is the door, Don't strike light
Let me outl'
"Thee's jagged, said James. "Theel
not get out for calling me rascal twice in
one day. heard thee alking with TacI
in the garden. And he tied thy hands
Oh, he's more fun than a cop. It's jus
like him, too Thee'll stay there till Pru
and him come back, then there'll be cir
Gus, and don't thee forget II"
There was brief scufte during which
gained possession of the door key ant
opened the door.
IAN right for thecr' James said, as
shadow dashed past us. Maybe ther
won't be no scrondgin when he comes u
! TO George w. Bell and our Prue. It's TIL
! funeral, not mine, Tacy."
Yet he mistook the premises. A fey
! minutes later, when was cogitating wha
next to DO. the knob Of the door was soft
! " turned from the outside.
Let me in, Tacy, murmured Prue
voice
with thy intended husband" asked
when she stood beside me. "Why, were
he?"
Nay" she ceturned. clinging TO me
che repudiated any such arrangement O
chance. He had made me sec the duty
owe to my husband and 10 my parants.
Then what did lac make me oil In
hinges for?' grumbled James. II don
like this kind of fun for nothing.
Hush. James, said Pruc softly.
where's George w. Belll' he pei
sisted. "Tacy wants some fun-ain't sh
our visitorI"
ITS near midnight. said Prue. liitl
louder, "and don't wish TO hear anothc
word" Then 10 me: "Tacy. was lo'
in thought after thee left my room TIA
evening. When ] came down the stairs Il
night did thee fancy that should acceI
for my spouse either Of the young me
who would act as these were acting In tn
preposterous natter Nay; al the last IN
ment | resolved TO tell both out there o
the door step that we must part then an
there, and / could be nothing to eithe
For, Tacy, up there in my room, tho'
letters before me, found that cared onl
for one of these men. But only one cam
out on the door step with me" ! marche
straight up the stairs, leaving her an
james TO lock the trout door. But coul
| sleep after day of such wild, unseeml
behavior / lay awake until nearly da
break, blaming everybody myself mo
. of all. Which man had Prue met?
"Tacy" called voice when l was do
ing off. "Our Prue's been with me an
she's made me cry. She's going to give
all away tomorrow TO mother. She gay
me silver dollar Wasn't il the snide
elopemont thee ever heard Of At an
, rate, our Prue's got backbone; she told II
SOL
: As who would doubt when next NOR
ing as in bewilderment paced the gardel
I, Prue demurely making tatting on u
bench there, Edward Andover came
, smiling, and plucking a white rose-and
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